Documents reveal why Atiku’s longtime ally dumped ADC for APC, backed Tinubu’s re-election

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Documents obtained by Hope Newspaper have revealed why Dr. Aslam Aliyu, a longtime political ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that there is “no vacancy” in Aso Rock Villa ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The documents, comprising a resignation letter dated July 1, 2026, and a signed press statement issued in Abuja on July 5, showed that Aliyu ended her membership of the ADC after nearly two decades in Atiku Abubakar’s political camp, citing what she described as the opposition’s failure to present a credible roadmap for Nigeria’s development.

In the statement, Aliyu, who described herself as a former stalwart of the ADC, said her years in the opposition had convinced her that the coalition lacked the vision and practical solutions needed to address the country’s challenges.

“For almost two decades, I worked tirelessly within the political camp of H.E. Atiku Abubakar. Throughout that entire period, my loyalty never wavered and my contributions were absolute. However, after almost two decades of dedicated engagement, it has become undeniably clear that the opposition lacks a meaningful development blueprint or a viable and sustainable national rescue plan. Nigeria requires structural solutions, not perpetual grievances,” she said.

She also dismissed the opposition coalition as “a hoax,” alleging that it lacked internal trust and had focused more on criticising the Federal Government than offering workable alternatives.

“The touted opposition coalition is a hoax; even the coalition lacks trust within themselves. ADC has no concrete plan for the country; its only strategy is to criticize the government without bringing a single viable solution to the table. Nigeria is tired of political actors merely ‘shooting films and snapping pictures’ of opposition whilst harbouring no genuine goodwill for the nation. Political culture must move past theatrical criticism and embrace measurable progress,” she stated.

Aliyu urged Nigerian youths, women and members of the opposition to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, expressing confidence that the President would secure another term in office.

“I am a mother, calling on patriotic Nigerian youths, women and forward-thinking opposition members to abandon counterproductive politics and join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the sake of our future generation. Let the message be clear: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa as Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge winner of the presidential election come 2027 by the grace of Almighty Allah,” she declared.

*Aliyu after a meeting with ADC stakeholders before she resigned*

The documents also suggest that the defection came shortly after Aliyu’s engagement with key stakeholders of the party in Zamfara State. Chairman of the Coalition of Grassroots Democrat, a group within the ADC, and House of Assembly candidate for Balangu Constituency, Sulaiman Uwaisu Idris, disclosed that Aliyu had held a strategic meeting in Abuja with all ADC Zamfara State House of Assembly candidates, alongside the party’s State Chairman and State Secretary, just three days before tendering her resignation.

According to Idris, “Just three days ago, Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Gimbiya) held a strategic meeting in Abuja with all ADC Zamfara State House of Assembly candidates, alongside the party’s State Chairman and State Secretary. Today, she officially resigned from the ADC and shook hands with the APC National Chairman. Politics can change fast.”

In her resignation letter addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman of Galadima Dan-Galadima Ward, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Aliyu thanked the party’s leadership and members for the opportunity to serve. Copies of the letter were also sent to the ADC Chairman in Zamfara State, the party’s National Chairman and Atiku Abubakar.

She reaffirmed her commitment to the democratic development of Zamfara State and Nigeria, expressing optimism that her new political platform would provide a better opportunity to contribute to grassroots mobilisation, good governance and national development